(inspired by Anis Mojgani’s “Direct Orders”)
Wake up like there’s no tomorrow
Wake up like you’ve had a bad dream
Wake up like there’s a tiger racing after you
Wake up like the sky is falling
Wake up like your house is on fire
Wake up like you’re being chased down the street
Wake up like you’re Batman beating the Joker
Wake up like you’re late for basketball practice
Wake up like you didn’t finish your homework
Wake up like you’re ready to start the day
Wake up like you’re happy to see your friends
Wake up before you fall back to sleep
Wake up like you have a fridge full of Dr. Pepper
Wake up like it’s time for the cheer competition
Wake up like the universe is ending and
you only have one chance to be yourself.
By Alyssa, age 11
Click the link (above) to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Laura Anawaty (4th grade) and Jacob Goins (2nd grade) from Parker Elementary.
This poem is featured as part of the 2012 A Poem A Day campaign, a National Poetry Month celebration by Writers in the Schools (WITS) that features a different poem by a WITS student every day during April. Click here to learn more.